Diecutting machine for labels and the like



Jan. 20, 1970 H. R. MASCHINOT 3,490,325

DIECUTTING MACHINE FOR LABELS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 5, 1967 ATTORNEYS 3,490,325 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 3,490,325 MACHINE FOR LABELS AND THE LIKE Howard R. Maschinot, 'Erlanger, Ky'., assignor to The Printing Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a cornlncurriNo poration of Ohio Filed -'Dec. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 688,166

' Int. Cl. B26d 7/06 US. Cl. 83-437 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A diecutting machine wherein label feed is accomplished through a cam actuated bell crankgconnected to a pusher means. The arrangement provides positive action of said cam on said bell crank when moving said pusher means in a feeding direction, and a spring urged return stroke, with a safety connection between said bell crank and pusher means, whereby the machine can continue running if the movement of the pusher means is obstructed, without damage to the machine or danger to the operator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The invention herein disclosed is applicable to the ma-.

chines disclosed in said copending applications if desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is in the field of label die cutting machines wherein a stack of uncut labels is moved by a pusher means from a loading position to' a cutting position on an anvil, which anvil is then pushed upwardly against a cutting die.

Machines of the character to which this invention relates are disclosed in the copending applications above identified. In ;the prior art the movementiiof the pusher means has been accomplished by a bell'crank having a long arm connected by a linkage to the pusher arm and a short arm carrying a cam follower. The cam follower rides on a cam driven by the power means-fof the machine. In the past, the arrangement has always? been such that a positive action of the cam on the bellflcrank was provided on the return stroke and a spring bias on the bell crank was relied upon for the feeding stroke. The spring bias on the-feeding stroke provided a measure of safety in the event that the movement of the pusher means was obstructed but no provision was made for safety on the return stroke of the pusher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Fundamentally, the present invention involves a reversal of the position of the bell crank such that a positive action is achieved on the bell crank by the cam in the feeding direction and the spring bias on the bell crank provides for the return stroke of the pusher means. Thus safety is provided for the return stroke of the pusher means. Safety on the feeding stroke of the pusher means is accomplished by a safety connection in the linkage between the long arm of the bell crank and the pusher means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a machine according to the invention showing only so much of the machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention. The

parts are shown in the position at the beginning of a feeding stroke.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts in position at the end of the feeding stroke.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the situation where a bell crank is at the end of the feeding stroke but the movement of the pusher means is blocked by the hand of an operator. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the safety connection between the bell crank and the pusher means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The machine itself is basically similar to those of the aforementioned copending applications and to the machine shown in Patent No. 3,290,977 in the names of Brestel and Maschinot, issued Dec. 13, 1966. Since the present invention does not relate to the details of the anvil and the die, these parts will not be described in detail. Reference may be had to the above cited references for a further description thereof.

The machine is provided with a base 1 and an upstanding column 2. The main shaft of the machine is shown at 3 and is driven by an electric motor of suitable size through gearing, a part of which is shown at 4.

A number of cams are mounted on the shaft 3 for various purposes which need not be discussed herein. One ,of the cams indicated at 5, is provided for operation of the feeding mechanism for feeding a stack of labels from a loading position on the table as indicated at 6, to a position over the anvil as indicated at 7 (FIG. 2). ,The feeding mechanism comprises a bell crank lever having a long arm 8 and a short arm 9 and pivoted in the machine frame at 10. The long arm 8 is connected to the pusher 11 by means of a link 12. The short arm is pro- .vided with a roller 13 which rides on the cam 5.

From this description, it will be clear that if the shaft 3 rotates in a clockwise direction, the cam 5 acting upon the follower 13 positively causes the bell crank lever 89 to rock in a clockwise direction. The return of the bell crank lever 89 to the position of FIG. 1 is achieved by a compression spring 14 surrounding a rod 15 which is connected to an ear 16 on the short arm 9 of the bell crank. Thus, while the feeding stroke, i.e. the stroke of the bell crank in aclockwise direction, is positive, the return stroke, i.e. the movement of the bell crank in the counterclockwise direction, is accomplished by the spring 14.

The link 12 between the long arm 8 of the bell crank and the pusher 11 is shown in detail in FIG. 4. It may comprise a hollow cylinder 20 closed at its ends by the plugs 21 and 22. An ear 23- is secured to the plug 21 While the plug 22 has an aperture for the passage of a rod 4 which is secured to an ear 25. The end of the rod 24 is provided with a retainer 26 and a compression spring 27 is disposed about the rod 14 between the retainer 26 and the plug 22.

The ear 23 is ultimately connected to the pusher 11 and the ear 25 is ultimately connected to the long arm 8 of the bell crank. The compression of the spring 27 is such that during the positive stroke in a clockwise direction of the bell crank, the pusher 11 is caused to move a stack of labels to be cut from the position 6 of FIG. 1 to the position 7 of FIG. 2. However, in the event that movement of the pusher 11 is obstructed as by the hand of an operator indicated at 28 in FIG. 3, the safety connection 12 permits the bell crank to continue on its stroke without harm to the hand of the operator or damage to the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that safety is provided both on the feeding stroke and the return stroke of the machine. It will be clear that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that, therefore, no limitations not specifically set forth are intended or should be implied.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a diecutting machine having a table, a powered anvil means operating upwardly from the level of said table against die means whereby to cut a stack of labels located on said anvil, pusher means for pushing a stack of labels placed on said table into the position of said anvil, and power means for operating said anvil means and said pusher means; a cam driven by said power means, a. pivotally mounted bell crank having a short arm and a long arm, means connecting said long arm to said pusher means to receiprocate the same, a safety connection between said long arm and said pusher means, said bell crank having on its short arm a cam follower, said bell crank being disposed with said short arm extending oppositely to the direction of rotation of said cam, and spring means biasing said bell crank in the direction of said short arm, whereby said cam acts positively on said bell crank to move said pusher means in the feeding direction, and said spring means accomplish the return stroke of said pusher means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said safety connection comprises a link composed of two telescoping members and spring means to urge them to telescoped" condition, by permitting extension thereof against the, effort of said spring for the full stroke of the long arm of said bell crank in the event of accidental obstruction in the path of said pusher means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,290,977 12/ 1966 Brestel et a1. 83-467 FOREIGN PATENTS 961,912 5/1950 France.

1,343,562 10/1963 France.

WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Primary Examiner 

